|
|
||
 This aerial view of the Library was produced by Skyviews & General Ltd, Leeds; for the North Riding Council. Supplied 14th October 1964, very shortly after the Library was opened. Olive Bennett was the first caretaker for the Library and Clinic (which was the upper floor) of this dual-purpose building, with the pram shelter at the left of the car park. The building was demolished in 2023! Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.  The Co-operative Stores at Loftus; with separate departments for Butchers, Clothes, Shoes, Food, Furniture, etc. Later with branches at Staithes, Carlin How, Brotton and Castleton; it later became the East Cleveland Co-operative. with a bank upstairs. The wheelbarrow outside the butchers department containing sheepskins, suggests the Co-op had its own slaughter-house. Maurice Dower tells us: “The butchers did indeed have a slaughter-house. I had a part-time weekend job delivering orders on a Saturday on a conventional butchers bike with the big basket in the front. During a school holiday in 1958 I also helped out in the slaughter-house, not with the slaughter but the clearing up and processing. I wish I could remember all the characters from that time. Harry (?) was the manager, Danny Plews worked there along with a couple more, one of who was an outgoing man from Staithes, Names escape me must be an age thing. The toilets at the back were well inscribed with lewd graffiti of which Tom Cole was a recipient. Tom worked in the drapery dept. Some happy memories of the camaraderie there.” Keith Cook has updated with: ” I think the manager was Harry Waite. I worked in the grocery warehouse from July 1958 to January 1959 and he was manager then.” John Wilson believes: “the manager of the butchers was Harry Bainbridge.” Norman Patton assisted with dating the image with: “I believe that the Odd Fellows Hall, in this picture, was completed in 1874, which was the same year that the 3rd storey was added above the Co-op food department. (There is a date stone at the peak of the gable). So I assume that the photograph was taken sometime in 1874 or just earlier!” Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and many thanks to Maurice Dower, Keith Cook, John Wilson and Norman Patton for the updates.  The south side of Zetland road Loftus, about 1905, complete with assembled participants in this postcard view. A William Richardson & Sons, Loftus, Penny Real Photo Series image. Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.  Dating of this image can be very definite. George Hebditch (building contractor) moved to Loftus in 1906. He first built the Congregational church at the bottom of Westfield Terrace. The church is clearly visible in the image with the scaffolding still in place and the outdoor pulpit not yet constructed. Researches have produced the following detail: ”In October 1904, a start was made to raise funds for a new building on a prominent site in the centre of the town. Foundation stones were laid in April, 1906 and opened for public worship on December 6th 1906. The total cost of the premises was £2,100, of all but £600 had been raised by June 1907”. Image courtesy of Mike & Carol; additional dating information courtesy of postcard ”Congregational Church and Minister, Loftus in Cleveland”.  Located next to the former Breckon and Shaw premises (now Loftus Shooting Supplies) on Zetland road. George Edis was a tobacconist and barber. The Archive is unsure which of the two white aproned gentlemen in the image is George (possibly to the left?). He was in business for many years in Loftus, from late 19th century to early 20th. The site is now part of the Morrisons store. Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers.  Viewed from Water Lane this view of Dam End is from a George Skilbeck postcard. Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers.  Originally believed to be the waterfall in Espiner’s (Hancock’s) wood, our postcard view is undated; but is possibly from the early 1900s. Jonathan Dales suggested: “This waterfall maybe in Handale wood.” Bryan Richardson has confirmed with: “This waterfall is the one in Handale Wood about 300 yards towards Handale from Slaters Banks. The waterfall in Espiner’s wood is flatter than the one in Handale. The railway embankment would also be in the background in Espiner’s. The waterfall is now about one meter lower than it is in the photograph.” Image courtesy of Ann Wedgewood and Keith Bowers; thanks to Jonathan Dales and Bryan Richardson for the updates.  An early 20th century postcard image of Zetland Road, how quiet it seems to today. The poor pony and trap would not enjoy the same serene pace of traffic, And as for pedestrians on the road! Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers.  One of the series of postcards celebrating the 1918 Peace Celebrations, taken by George Skilbeck (possibly from the upper front room of his premises on Zetland Road). This is the head of the procession with the band leading a vast number of people. The clothing of all indicates more relief that the horror is over than a joyful occasion it commemorated. Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers.
This view of Zetland Road shows the original brick pavements and unmetalled road. How the pram on the right of the image must have been vibrated as it was pushed along on the pavement. Notice also the absence of the now familiar red post box on the support wall for the monumental masons displays. |
||
Recent Comments